Niger Delta

Inflation, Variation Won’t Stall Ongoing Projects -Diri

Published

2 years ago

March 29, 2024

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the high cost of construction materials will not deter his administration’s commitment to development of the state.
He also said ongoing projects were a priority of the government and assured that cost variations will not affect them.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Diri, Mr. Daniel Alabrah in a statement quoted him as stating this during a recent unscheduled inspection visit to both the Nembe-Brass and the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road projects.
Speaking on the Nembe-Brass road, Governor Diri said: “The question of whether or not my administration will continue with this project due to the high cost of materials does not arise because when it comes to development in the state, nothing will stop us.
“Development cannot be arrested as a result of high cost of materials. The contractors will come up with the cost variation and the Ministry of Works will look at it, evaluate and assess it and agree on the amount due to variation. So, we’ll surely and steadily continue the construction of this road to Brass.
“I’m very satisfied with the pace of work. This shows that we’ve never played politics with the development of this state as all parts of the state is our constituency”, he said.
While appreciating the Federal Government for its commitment to partnering the state on the project, Senator Diri explained that he had met President Bola Tinubu twice and that he had directed the Federal Ministry of Works to collaborate with the state government on construction of the second phase of the road.
“The collaboration with the federal government is looking very good and let me use this opportunity to appreciate His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria whom I have met twice and he directed the Minister of Works to collaborate with the state in completing the second phase of this road.
“After my last meeting with him, the Minister of Works called me and sent a team to the state. So, the collaboration has already started”, he added.
The state’s helmsman expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the 21km first phase of the project, which has 10 bridges, saying in this second tenure, he looks forward to vehicles driving to Twon-Brass, headquarters of the Brass Local Government Area.
While noting that the rehabilitation work on the failed portions of the Ogbia-Nembe road had stopped, he called on the Niger Delta Development Commission, which embarked on the remedial work before last year’s governorship election, to ensure it is completed.
In his remarks, the Setraco Project Manager in charge of Bayelsa and Delta states, Mr. Joseph Cosme, explained that the company had achieved 65 per cent sand-filling of the road while almost 2.5km of the sand-cement and stone-base had been completed.
While inspecting the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road project, the governor dispelled insinuations that his administration continued the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District road due to political consideration.
Speaking at the bridge construction site at Angiama community, Diri described the road as crucial to development of the state, saying it is unthinkable for headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area not to be accessible by road.
He stated that the level of progress on the project even after the November 11 election was enough to change the minds of skeptics and critics of his administration.
He also lauded the people of Southern Ijaw for their support for the project and urged them to sustain the tempo.
Also speaking, a group of Southern Ijaw Local Government leaders who were in the inspection tour with the governor hailed him for his commitment towards completing the road, affirming the gratitude of people of the area to the Prosperity Administration.
They included the Leader of the State House of Assembly, Monday Bubou-Obolo, the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, as well as the Local Government Area’s Peoples Democratic Party Caucus Chairman, Talford Ongolo.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Unveils Industrial Park For Manufacturing

Published

19 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa-Ibom State Government has announced the completion of its industrial park which is well equipped with modern amenities to fast-track entrepreneurship that would create hundreds of jobs in the state.

Located on a 250-hectare facility with a dedicated customs checkpoint and a logistics hub, it has reduced the cost of moving goods to port by up to 30 percent.

The State Governor, Umo Eno, made this known while declaring open the 18th Annual General Meeting of the Cross River/Akwa Ibom States branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Uyo, the state capital.

He said in the state’s portal, which he described as a “one-stop-shop”, the state government has streamlined company registration, tax incentives and permits, adding that since its launch, the average time to obtain a business licence has fallen from 45 days to just 7 days.

“In partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Industrial Engineers and local universities, we have introduced a dual training programme that places 2000 youths annually in apprenticeships within manufacturing firms, ensuring a pipeline of skilled labour tailored to industry need”, he said.

The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Iniobong Ekong, said the state’s industrial policy 2024-2029 offers a 5-year tax holiday for new manufacturing enterprises, a 50% reduction in electricity tariffs for energy-intensive plants, and a matching grant scheme for research and development projects that has achieved a 15% increase in productivity.

He urged MAN to “partner with the state government by investing in the industrial park, tap into our incentives and bring your innovation to our shores.

“Together we can create a robust ecosystem where raw materials are transformed into value-added products, jobs are generated and our economy diversifies beyond oil.

“To the Federal Government, we seek continued support in the form of fiscal measures that encourage local production as well as the swift implementation of the national industrial policy which aligns closely with our state initiatives.”

In his welcome address, the Branch Chairman of the association, Inalegwu Adoga, lauded the governors of the two states for their commitment to improving infrastructure, stabilizing the business environment, enhancing security, and supporting local enterprises which, he said, has gone unnoticed.

“The manufacturing community deeply appreciates the platforms you have created to make both states more attractive for investment and industrial growth”, he said.

In a goodwill message, the Zonal Coordinator of Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-industry Development Initiative (NAADI), Howard Usen, expressed readiness to ensure a robust agribusiness and agro-industrial development across the country, particularly in the resource-rich South-South region.

“We recognize that the future of Nigeria’s economy is intrinsically linked to a strong manufacturing sector, especially one that leverages our abundant agricultural resources”, Usen said.

Niger Delta

Oborevwori Weeps over Senator’s Death

Published

19 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has described the death of Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi as a great loss to the State, the Anioma nation and Nigeria at large.

In a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, on Friday, Oborevwori said Nwaoboshi was a proud son of Delta and a courageous defender of the Anioma cause whose contributions to nation-building would remain indelible.

He recalled the late senator’s impactful service at the National Assembly, where he chaired the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.

The Governor said his voice and advocacy for the development of the Niger Delta and Delta State stood him out as a committed and passionate leader.

“Nwaoboshi’s political journey and rise to prominence were anchored on a rich political pedigree, selfless service and unwavering commitment to the ideals of democracy, which also saw him serve meritoriously as a two-time Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State.

“The late lawmaker devoted his life to the service of his people, the party and the nation, leaving behind a legacy of courage, loyalty and dedication to public service”, he said.

Oborevwori, said: “On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I mourn the passing of my dear friend, Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, the people of Anioma nation, members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, and all those whose lives he touched.

“I pray that Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest and give his family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”.

Niger Delta

Nasarawa D’Gov, Others Condole Diri, Ewhrudjakpo Family

Published

19 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel Akabe and the Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Seriake Dickson, have also condoled with the Bayelsa State Government and family of the late Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, describing the deceased as an outstanding patriotic public servant.

In a letter addressed to the Ewhrudjakpo Family signed by the Nasarawa State Deputy Governor he expressed deep sadness over the sudden passing of his Bayelsa colleague on Thursday 11th December, 2025.

Dr Akabe acknowledged the high intellectual capacity and commitment of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo to public service and development of Bayelsa State as well as improvement in the governance system of the country.

Describing the sad development as a collective grief, the Nasarawa deputy governor sympathised with Governor Douye Diri, the Ewhrudjakpo Family, alongside the Government and people of the State, and prayed God to comfort them.

“I’m deeply shaken by the sudden and tragic news of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State and my contemporary. Anyone who followed his trajectory in public service could clearly see a man deeply committed to the development of his state.

“He was widely regarded as a workaholic and a technocrat who brought intellectual rigour to governance. I will definitely miss his pieces of advice and his many proverbs”, he said.

Meanwhile, the former Governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Chief Seriake Dickson, has urged the people of the state to honour the memories of their departed deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, by emulating his lifestyle of loyalty and commitment to promoting the common good.

Senator Dickson made the call when he paid a condolence visit to the Ewhrudjakpo Family and the people of Ofoni Community at the country home of Senator Ewhrudjakpo at Ofoni in Sagbama local government area of the state.

Accompanied by his wife, Professor Rachel Dickson, and a large retinue of political associates, Dickson lamented that the sudden demise of the Bayelsa Deputy Governor has created a gaping hole not only in Ofoni but also the entire state in several areas including politics.

According to him, the Senator Ewhrudjakpo he maintained close ties with for over thirty years, embodied total loyalty, selfless service and dedication to worthy causes aimed at making society a better place.

Describing the passing of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as a great iroko tree that had fallen, the former Bayelsa Governor expressed worry that it would be difficult to have another committed, loyal and dedicated leader of Ewhrudjakpo’s ilk in a short while

He, however, encouraged the bereaved Ewhrudjakpo family and the entire people of Ofoni community to take solace in the positive and riveting legacy left behind by their illustrious son, and prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed deputy governor.

“The story of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo is now spreading like wild harmattan fire. He was a good man who rendered selfless service with integrity, compassion and loyalty. We can not completely tell his story in one day.

“There are two types of loyalty: loyalty to good causes and loyalty to persons. Lawrence had both. Younger people and even elders in this political business should know that it is about mentoring and being mentored. Lawrence knew it all and followed. How do we replace Lawrence?

”Even though we are all pained, we still have to thank God for giving him to us through your family and community. We do so because we can not question God. But I want to let you know that there are so many things we will institute in his name.

“We will not allow the name of this great and good man to go down because he has ceased to breathe. I am calling a lot of friends and all of you to be part of it”, Dickson said.

Responding on behalf of the Ewhrudjakpo family, Dr. Oyovwhi Osusu, thanked Senator Dickson for the condolence visit and his kind words of encouragement to the immediate bereaved family and Ofoni community in general.

Dr. Osusu, who expressed profound sense of loss and grief of the community over the death of their son, however, assured Senator Dickson of their readiness to collaborate with him, the State Government and every critical stakeholder to give the deceased a befitting burial.

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa